Sheinbaum under pressure: War, shortages, and drug trafficking are closing in on her

President Claudia Sheinbaum faces her first major leadership test on three simultaneous fronts: a global crisis, a dwindling healthcare promise, and the relentless violence of drug trafficking. Find out why this matters to you.

Claudia Sheinbaum's presidency is facing a perfect storm. While she navigates a dangerous international crisis stemming from the US-Iran conflict, pressure is mounting at home over her promise to end the medicine shortage by July and the harsh reality of narcopolitics, highlighted by the recent murder of a mayor.

The start of his term has become a high-stakes balancing act, where success or failure on one front has direct repercussions on the others. His government's ability to manage these three crises will define public perceptions of his leadership in the years to come.

Front 1: The Stateswoman in the Face of the Global Crisis

On the international stage, Sheinbaum has adopted a stance of neutrality and pacifism. Her government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), has issued an "urgent call for peace" and asked the UN to mediate in the conflict between the United States and Iran. This stance seeks to consolidate Mexico's position as a responsible diplomatic player.

At the same time, the administration has demonstrated operational capability by successfully evacuating 175 Mexicans from the war zone, an action that reinforces its message of prioritizing life and safety over confrontation.

Front 2: The Promise of Health with an Expiration Date

At the domestic level, the most pressing problem for citizens is the chronic shortage of medicines. The president has put her credibility on the line by making a specific, time-bound promise: the problem will be resolved by July 2025.

This declaration has set the clock ticking. Civil society organizations and the political opposition remain skeptical, pointing out that the causes of the shortage are structural and complex. If the government fails to comply, the political cost will be significant, undermining public confidence in its management capacity.

"The political choice (of judicial reform) is acceptable," Sheinbaum acknowledged on another controversial topic, displaying a pragmatic side that is now being tested by the health crisis, where results, not admissions, are what count for people.

Front 3: The Internal War against Drug Trafficking

While the government promotes peace abroad, violence in Mexico continues unabated. The recent murder of Martha Laura Mendoza, mayor of Tepalcatepec, Michoacán, and sister-in-law of the notorious Carteles Unidos leader, "El Abuelo Farías," is a brutal reminder of the cartels' power and their deep infiltration into politics.

This event, along with the constant operations and massive drug seizures by federal forces, demonstrates that the Mexican state's main war is being fought within its own borders.

These three fronts are not isolated events; they are intrinsically connected. Managing the health crisis and internal security consumes enormous political capital. A failure to resolve the medicine shortage or contain drug violence weakens the government's moral authority and credibility on the international stage. The big question facing the Sheinbaum administration is whether it can manage its domestic crises effectively enough to allow itself to play a leading role in the complex global chess game.